Prime-mover control system



May 10 1 927.

c. B. TAYLOR PRIME MOVER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed D60. 1926 Patented May1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES B. TAYLOR, O F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TOALLIS-CIIALMEBS MANUFACTURING DELAWARE.

COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF PRIME-MOVER CONTROLSYSTEM.

Application filed December 13, 1926. Serial No. 154,888.

This invention relates to prime mover control systems. It isparticularly adapted for prime movers which it IS desired to startautomatically.

A prime mover usually has a comparatively large starting resistance,that 18, more operating fluid must be admitted to start t from rest thanmay be necessary to bring it to a predetermined speed after it is oncestarted. This necessitates first admitting a comparatively largequantity of operating fluid, then reducing the amount and then againincreasing it. It is EIIlObJBCt of this invention to provide,meanswhereby these' results may be accomplished automatically. and,more particularly, in a simple and efficient manner. I

A more specifioobject is the provision of a control system foraccomplishing the hereinbefore mentioned objects in which the primemover is also controlled by means of a speed governor.

A further more specific object is the provision of acontrol system foraccomplish ng the hereinbefore mentioned objects in which a fluidpressure operated servo-motor is utilized for controlling the admissionof operating fluid to the prime mover. Other objects will appearhereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds. I

The novel features of the invention will appear from this specificationand the ac compa'nying drawing forming a part thereof and illustratingone embodiment of the invention and all these novel features areintended to be pointed out in the claims.

The single figure of the drawing 18 a diagrammatic representationshowing how the invention may be applied in the control of a hydraulicturbine.

Referring to the drawing, the prime mover which is to be controlled ishere shown as a hydraulic turbine 1 which is adapted to drive agenerator 2. The generator 2 may feed a line or distribution system 3when a circuit breaker 4 is closed. The circuit breaker 4; maybe'provided with an operating magnet 5 which may be energized in anysuitable manner. The circuit breaker 4: is here also shown as providedwith a normally closed auxiliary contact 6 for a purpose to behereinafter set forth. 7

The supply of water to the turbine 1 may be controlled by any suitablemeans such as the gate 7. It is of course understood that the supply ofoperating fluid to the prime mover may be controlled in any usual manneras by valves, guide vanes etc; Hereinafter the term gate will be usedfor the sake of brevity to designate any means for controlling theadmission of operating fluid to the prime mover. The gate 7 may beoperated by any suitable means as for example a servo-motor 8 having itsoperating piston connected through a crank 9 to the ate 7 Fluid underpressure may be admitted selectively to theservo-motor to cause it tomove in one direction or the other by means of a regulating valve 10supplied by fluid under pressure through a pipe 11. The regulating valveis operated by means of a valve stem 12 suitably connected to a pivot 13at one end of the floating lever 14. The connection between theregulating valve and floating lever is here shown as including a springcage 15 and a spring 16.

In the position of the parts as shown a control finger l7 pivoted at 18is adapted to hold the regulating valve 10 in its illustrated positionby engagement with a projection 54 associated directly or indirectlywith the valve stem 12. In this position of the regulating valve fluidunder pressure from pipe 11 is admitted by the regulating valve totheservo-inotor so that the gate 7 may moved to the closed position.

A rod 19 is operatively associated with the control finger 17 by meansof a pin and slot connection 21. The rod 19 may be biased so as to inturn bias the control finger 17 in a clockwise direction, by means of aspring 20. The rod 19 may be moved against the bias of spring 20 bymeans of a core and magnet 22, 23. Any suitable means such as a dash pot24 may be utilized to retard the motion of the control finger 17. Anyother suitable means for operating control finger 17 may be utilized.

The floating lever 14 is controlled by means of fly balls 25, which maybe suitably driven in response to the speed of the prime mover, as forexample by means of a belt :26. The fly balls are connected to thefloating lever at a floating pivot 27. Another end of the floating lever14 is provided with apivoted nut 28 adapted to receive a screw 29. Thescrew 29 is for the usual purpose of adjusting the relative position ofthe nut 28 and a' shaft 30 which is associated with thescreW 29. Theshaft or rod 30 is associated with one element 'oia dash pot orcompensating device 31, the' other. element of which is operativelyrelated to the gate 7 as. by means of a bell crank 32, a link 33 and anarm .34 movable in unison with the gate 7. A. switch 37, 38 is hereshown as held in the closed position by means of an extension on the arm34 which engages the projection 35 adjustable on an operating rod 36 forthe switch 37, 38. The switch rod 36 may be biased toward the otherposition by means of a spring 39. The bias of spring 39 may also beovercome by means of a core and coil 40, 41 associated with the switchrod 36.

The prime mover is provided with means responsive to a predetermineddegree of rotation thereof, here shown as including a centrifugallyresponsive device 42 which when a predetermined degree of rotationoccurs is adapted to actuate switches 43, 44.

Any suitable sourceof current 48 may be provided for operating thecontrol circuits. .4 master control switch 45 for the control circuitsis here shown, and this switch may be located at any desired place. Whenthe control switch 45 is closed, a pair of control buses 46, 47 isenergized.

lhe electrical connections of the control system will be best understoodby a description of the operation of the system as a whole. In thefollowing description relays will be referred to by their operatingcoils. The operation is as follows. Upon energizetion or the controlbuses 46, 47 by closure or" switch 45 a relay 49 is energized from bus46 through the normally closed or back contacts and a movable member 50of a relay 51, from thence through coil of relay 49 to bus 47.Energization of relay 49 closes a contact 52 thereof thereby energizingmag net or coil" 23 from buses 46, 47 as is clear.

' This causes a counter-clockwise movement at a predetermined rate ofcontrol finger 17. The projection 54, and consequently the valve stem12, follows this movement of control finger 17 under the influence ofmoved toward the open position. 'When sufficient'water is admitted tothe turbine 1 to cause' it to=start from rest the gate 7 is ordinarilyopened considerably further than is necessary to bring the prime moverup to.

normal speed and maintain it at that speed.

Whenthe prime mover has attained a predetermined degree oi rotation thedevice 42 will effectively operate switches 43, 44. It will be notedthat the closure of switch 43 will not complete any circuit through coil41 for the reason that as the gate 7 opened the spring 39 pulled theswitch rod 36 toward the left as viewed in the drawing, being permittedto do so by reason of the counterclockwise movement of arm 34. Theclosure of contact 44, however, completes a circuit for a relay 51, frombus 46 through aresistance 53, through auxiliary contact (3, throughcoil 51 through contact 44 to bus 47. Relay 51 is consequently energizedopening its back contacts and closing its front or up- ,per contacts. Itwill be noted that the front contacts of relay 51 serve to bypasscontact 44 and consequently relay 51 is maintained energized. Theopening of the back contacts of relay 51 dcenergizcs relay 49 which inturn deencrgizes coil 23. The spring 20 consequently moves the controlfinger 17 in a clockwise direction thereby returning the regulatingvalve 10 to the position shown in the drawing and causing theservo-motor to reclose the gate 7. Reclosure ot' the gate 7 causes theswitch rod 3610 again assume the position shown in the drawing. Inasmuchas the switch 43 is now closed and contact 38 is also closed, acircuitis completed for the coil 41 which acts upon core 40. The closureof switch 37 is adapted to short circuit the coil of relay 51 therebydeenergizing that relay. It is of course obvious that the relay 51 maybe deenergized in some 95 other manner than by short circuiting thesame. The deenergization of relay 51 causes that relay to reclose itsback contacts thereby again energizing relay 49 and consequently alsocoil 23. The control finger 17 is there- In fore again moved in acounter-clockwise direction to thereby, as previously described, movethe gate 7 toward the open position. Inasmuch as, coil 41 is nowenergized, the switches 37, 38 will be maintained in the closed positioneven though arm 34 moves away from projection 35.

Meanwhile the prime mover has been increasing. in speed and at apredetermined speed the fly balls 25 assume control of. the 1mregulating valve 10, the control finger 17 having moved out of the wayof the projection 54 thereby permitting full control by means of the'fly balls. Asv the gate 7 opens the bell crank 32 is rotated in aclockwise direct-ion to provide compensating movement through dash pot31 acting on nut 28 to rotate the floating lever 14 about its floatingpivot 27 in the well known manner to readjust the regulating valve 10.When the 1-30 prime mover has attained a speed which .corresponds infrequency to the frequency of line 3. the coil 5 may be energized in anysuitable manner *to close circuit breaker 4, the generator 2 thensupplying energy to line 3. The closure oi circuit breaker 4 opensauxiliary contact 6 thereby avoiding any waste of current in resistanceIt should be understood that it is not de sired to limit the inventionto the exact de- Ill) (it I mined amount, and means effective when saidgate has been moved sald predetermined amount for causing saidcontrolling means to effectmovement of said gate toward open position. I

2. In a control system for a prime mover having a gate for admittingoperating fluid thereto, a servo-motor for operating said gate, aregulating valve for said servo-motor, means for causing said regulatingvalve to move to gate-open position to thereby open said gate and startsaid prime mover from rest, means responsive to a predetermined degreeof rotation of said prime mover forcausing said regulating valve to moveto the gate-closed position, and means effective when saidgate hasbeen-moved a predetermined amount toward closed position for causingsaid regulating valve to move to the gate-open position to therebyreopen. said gate.

3. In a having a gate for admitting operating fluid thereto, operatingmeans for said gate, means including a magnet for controlling saidoperating means, means for initially energizing said magnet to causesaid operating means to open said gate, meansresponsive to apredetermined degree of rotation of said prime mover for deenergizingsaid magnet to thereby cause. closing movement of said gate, meansresponsive to the predetermined closing movement of said gate forreenergizing said magnet to thereby reopen said gate, and means formaintaining said magnet energized after said gate reopens.

4; In a control system for a prime mover having a gate forv admittingoperating fluid thereto, a servo-motor for operating said gate, aregulating valve for servomotor, mean; including a magnet tor causingsaid regulating valve'to move to gateopen position to thereby open saidgate and start said prime mover from rest, means rcsponsive to apredetern'iined degree of rotation of said prime mover for decnergizmgsaid magnet to thereby cause closing movementof said gate, meansresponsive to a predetermined closing movement oi raid gate forrcenergizing said magnet to thereby reopen said gate, and means formaintaining control system for a prime mover said vmagnet energizedafter said gate reopens.

5. Ina control system for a prime mover havingla gate for. admittingoperating fluid thereto, operating means for said gate,'means includinga magnet for controllingsaid op: 5

crating means, means for initially energizing said magnet to cause saidoperating,

means to open said gate, means responsive to a predetermined degreeof'rotation of said prime moverior deenergizing said magnet to thereby"cause clos ngmovement of said gate, meansinclu'ding a switchresponding,

to a predetermined closing movement of said gate jor reenergizing saidmagnet to thereby reopen said gate, and means responsive to the closureof said switch for mai'ntaining said switch closed after said gatereopens.

6, Ina control system for a prime mover having a gate for admittingoperating fluid thereto, operating means for said gate,

means including a magnet for controlling said operating means, means forin tially energ zmg said magnet to causesa d oper ating means to opensaid gate, means responsive to a predetermined degree of ro-' tation ofsaid prime mover for deenergizmg 'said magnet to thereby cause closingmovement of said gate, means responsive to i the predetermined closingmovement of saidgate for reenerglzlng said magnet to there-V by reopensaid gate, means for maintaining said magnet energized after said gatereopens, and a governor responsive to the speed of said prime mover forcontrolling said gate-operating controlling means.

7. In a control system for a prime mover having a gate for admittingoperating fluid thereto, operatin means for said gate, means forcontrolling said operating means, means including a magnet which when energized or deenergized respectively causes said controlling means toeti'ect opening or closing movement respectively of said gate, a relayfor controlling said magnet, means for initially energizing said relay,a second relay having a contact in the circuit of said first relay,means responsive to a predetermined amount of rotation of said primemover for energizing said second relay, means for maintaining saidsecond relay energized in response to the operation thereof, switchmeans, means operativeiy related to said gate for actuating said switchmeans as said gate moves out of and into a predetermined closedposition, means Where by actuation of said switch n'irans in response toclosing movement of said gate deenergizes said second relay, and meansfor maintaining said switch. means closed in response to actuationthereof,

8 In a control system for a prime mover having a gate for admittingoperating fluid thereto, means tor operating said gate, means torcontroliing said operating means,

means for initially causing said controlling means to open said gate,means responsive to a predetermmed'degree of rotation of said primemover for causing said control-- ling means to .close said gate, meansre- I sponsi've to the position of said gate for controlling saidcontrolling means, and means ointly respons ve to said gate-responsive.meansand said rotation-responsive -1neans for controlling'saidgate-responsive means.

.9. In a control system for a prime mover 15 to cause said gate to opena predetermined amount, means responsive to a. predetermined degree ofrotation of said prime mover for causing said controlling means toeffect movement of said gate toward closed position to a predeterminedamount, means effective when said gate has been moved said predeterminedamount for causing said controlling means to effect movement of saidgate -toward open position, and a governor responsive to the speed ofsaid prime mover for controlling said gate-operating control- 1mg means.A

In testimony whereof, the. signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

CHARLES B. TAYLOR.

